Bumper entry at Usk breeding sheep sale meets good trade

A bumper entry of 2,990 breeding and store sheep sold to a good trade at Usk Showground, Gwernesney, on the weekend (29 August).

Although prices for yearlings were back by £20 on the year, ram averages jumped nearly £50 on 2014.

An excellent entry of 1,779 yearling ewes – up 528 on last year – sold to a 89% clearance and averaged £106.43 – down £21.97 on the year. Top price per head of £170 was achieved for an excellent consignment of pure Texel yearlings from Messrs JR Joseph, Llanstephan, Brecon. A strong entry of Suffolk cross Mules from Messrs GG Chandler and Son, Llangattock Lingoed, sold to £136/head. Texel cross Mules from Mr PG Amphlett, Garthbrengy, topped £130 while a strong entry of Welsh Mules from GG Chandler and Sons saw two pens achieve £127.

An increased entry 493 ewe lambs (up by 314 on the year) averaged £65.08 – down just £4.81 on 2014 – and sold to clearance rate of 92%. Suffolk cross Mules from Mr RT Watkins, Coldbrook, achieved the top price twice at £80.

Store lambs topped at £60.50 for a pen of Beltex cross wether lambs from Mr and Mrs P Jones, Llanellen. Overall 331 averaged £55 – down £7.61 on last year.

Strong consignments of quality breeding rams met a good trade on the first quality types. Harder bred rams were more difficult to sell. Charollais rams topped the trade on the day with a superb consignment from Mr DP Jones, Brecon, achieving the top prices of £640 and £600. Overall 62 rams levelled at £343.95 – up £48.72 on the year.